Suzanne Tomlinson-Mathis, PhD, MBA

Dr. Suzanne Tomlinson-Mathis, PhD, MBA is a seasoned leader in drug development with over two decades of experience advancing innovative treatments for critical health challenges. Her scientific expertise encompasses diverse therapeutic areas, including antivirals targeting dengue and West Nile virus protease, oncology agents focused on treating colon and triple-negative breast cancer, and neurotherapeutic programs involving treatments for substance use disorder and neuroinflammation. Beyond her scientific contributions, Dr. Tomlinson-Mathis possesses extensive experience in biotech startup operations, strategic financing, and regulatory planning.

As Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Consortium (GCC) Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (GCC REACH), Dr. Tomlinson-Mathis plays a pivotal role in mentoring early-stage investigators in translating high-impact biomedical innovations into commercially viable products. She has spearheaded the development of numerous transformative programs, including the Accelerator for Cancer Therapeutics—the first therapeutics accelerator in Houston—the Cancer Therapeutics Training Program (CTTP), and the GCC Center for Comprehensive PK/PD and Formulation. Additionally, she directs the AAMC award-winning GCC Rigor and Reproducibility in Research Program, underscoring her commitment to research excellence and scientific integrity.

Dr. Tomlinson-Mathis also leads the GCC Innovative Drug Discovery and Development (IDDD) program, supporting a network of specialized core facilities in medicinal chemistry, PK/PD analysis, formulation, and toxicology among others. Her efforts have been instrumental in securing millions in funding to support these translational initiatives. Under her guidance, the GCC has expanded its collaborative research programs to include areas such as Mental Health, Antimicrobial Resistance, Pain, Immunology, Single Cell and Spatial Omics, Integrative Development, Regeneration and Repair, and Cellular and Molecular Biophysics.  Emerging initiatives under her leadership focus on Aging and Geroscience, Neuroinflammation, and Rare Disease Research, reflecting her dedication to addressing complex biomedical challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration.